Also sprach Dora Selig on 20 Feb 97 at 11:23 about Oberpfalz-History:
The History of the Earldom of Oberpfalz ( Upper Pfalz ) *Earldom is really an English concept. I would try: *The History of the Principality of the Upper Palatinate Diese Seite ist auch auf Deutsch verfügbar. 1180 Kaiser Friedrich Barbarossa enfeoffs the Dukedom Bavaria in favour of Otto I , a Wittelsbacher. *Dukedom = Duchy *while enfeoff means to install or create a fief, it is a rather archaic word. It might be more easily understood by saying 'he gave the Duchy in fief to ... ' *the more general use of favour is favor 1214 Rheinpfalz becomes part of Bavaria *Rennish Palatinate becomes... 1245 Regensburg, one of the most important German trade cities, becomes an indepentent city of the Reich. *becomes an imperial free city. 1255 As a result of the first partitioning of Bavaria, Oberbayern ( Upper Bavaria) which nowadays extends with a considerable part of it into the territory of Ober- pfalz and Rheinpfalz goes to Ludwig der Strenge ( Ludwig the Severe ), while Niederbayern ( Lowe Bavaria) goes to Heinrich VIII ( Heinrich the 8th ). *why use German words in the translation when those are available in the original text? *As a result of the first partition of Bavaria, Upper Bavaria (which today extends into a considerable part of the Upper- and Rennish Palatinates) went to Louis the Strict while Lower Bavaria went to Henry VIII. 1268 Innitially part of the territory of the Bavarian Nordmarch and afterwards of the Bavarian Marchearldom of Nordgau the territory is pawned to the Dukes of Bavaria. *Initially part of the territory of the Bavarian Northern March and later the Bavarian Margraviate of Nordgau is given in fee to the Dukes of Bavaria 1322 As a sign of gratitude for having helped him at war to obtain the Kaiser's throne, Kaiser Ludwig der Bayer pawns the Egerland to the Bohemian King, John of Luxemburg. *pawns is not really the right word. Gives in fee is more historically correct *Emperor Louis the Bavarian *Luxembourg 1329 By the contract of Pavia , Kaiser Ludwig of Bavaria conferres a large part of the territory of Oberpfalz ( Nordgau ) and the Rheinpfalz ( also named Kurpfalz ) with its capital Heidelberg to the sons of his brother Rudolf . Unlike the Pfalz on the Rhein the Bavarian part of the territory with ist capital Amberg and the seat of the electors' governors was called " the Land of the Pfalz in Bavaria" or " our Pfalz of Amberg " . In 1513 the name " Obere Pfalz " ( Upper-Pfalz ) was first mentioned in documents. *Emperor Louis the Bavarian assigns a large part of the Upper Palatinate (Nordgau) and of the Rennish Palatinate (aka Kurpfalz or Electorate Palatinate), with its capital Heidelberg, via the contract of Pavia, to the sons his brother Rudolf. 1355 Karl V who had succeeded Ludwig the Bavarian ( Ludwig der Bayer ) as King of the Germans and western Kaiser acquires parts of Nordgau and turns Sulzbach into the capital of Neuböhmen ( New Bohemia ) 1410 Somewhat reduced in size, the territory nowadays called Pfalz goes to the son of King Ruprecht von der Pfalz. *the territory is now called Palatinate 1448 The territorry becomes part of Pfalz-Mosbach and for a short time it is partially included into Pfalz-Simmern. *territory 1499 The territory joins the main frontier of the Pfalz 1618-1648 During the 30-Years-War the Oberpfalz territory is turned into the main battlefield and is severely (being) affected by the war. Most of the (Lots of) cities and villages are burnt to the ground, some of them even repeatedly. Out of more than a hundred smith-hammers only about are still operating. The population is (being) severely decimated. *smith-hammers might not be understood. Settlements may be a better term and how many are left standing? 1621 The territory of Bavaria which had undergone conversion to the Lutheran confession is being occupied again, while in it becomes catholic again. *by whom? while in it becomes? 1628 The Sovereign of Bavaria , Prince Elector Max of Bavaria, puts an end to the domination of the Kurpfalz over Bavaria. This domination had lasted for three hundred years. The Oberpfalz becomes Bavarian territory again. 1631 Bohemian territory is being put in pledge for Bavaria. Being part of the Bavarian Reich-district, the Oberpfalz consists of two divided main parts amidst which the principality of Sulzbach, Amt Vilseck of Bamberg, the Earldoms of Sternstein and Leuchtenberg are located.The Law-Courts of Amberg, Pfaffenhofen, Haimburg, Rieden, Freudenberg, Hirschau, Nabburg, Neuburg vor dem Wald, Wetterfeld, Bruck, Retz, Waldmünchen, Murach and Treswitz-Tenesberg are part of the southern main territory., while the Law Courts of Bernau, Eschenbach, Grafenwöhr, Holnberg, Kirchentumbach, Auerbach and Hartenstein, the cast office of Kemnat and the county Law Courts of Waldeck and the regency of Rothenberg belong to the northern territory. Some smaller regions are part of the territory of Nürenberg. *put in pledge = held in fief for *Amt = district *law courts = jural districts 1663 Regensburg becomes the residence of the (all.prevailing) Reichstag of the Holy Roman Reich of the German Nation ( Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation ), which it will keep until 1806. *Holy Roman Empire of the .. *Reichstag = German Imperial Diet 1677 Sulzbach which had been cut off in 1614 is now again (being) included in(to) the territory of the Oberpfalz. 1705 During the Spanish war of Succession ( 1701-1714 ) the peasants of the Oberpfalz vainly rise against being drafted into the army of their Austrian occupants. *occupiers 1740-1748 During the Austrian war of Succession the Oberpfalz is (being) devasted by Maria Theresia's ( Austrian Kaiser ) hordes of Pandures who are lead in battle by Franz von der Trenck. *by Empress Maria Theresia of Austria's hordes ... 1748 The Sovereigns of Thurn und Taxis become principal commissaries at the Reichstag, i.e. viceroys of the Kaiser. 1803 In the course of secularization the Bavarian State takes possession of all monasteries and cloisters of Regensburg. Regensburg is the last ecclesiastical principality to be taken over and it goes to the principality primate Carl Theodor von Dalberg. 1803 Amt Vilseck in the district of Bamberg and Waldsassen Monastery becomes part of Bavaria. 1n 1806 Sternstein joins the Bavarian territory and in 1816 Amt Marktredwitz becomes part of Bavaria. 1806 These different territories are all united in what we call "New Bavaria" During this process referred to as mediatization Bavaria becomes a Kingdom. 1808 Bavaria is the first European State to abolish bondage. The first constitutional law ( constitution ) is being passed. 1810 After having been disbanded, the ecclesiastical principality of Regensburg joins Bavaria and the city of Regensburg succceeds Amberg as the capital of the county of Regen. 1837 In rough outlines, the Oberpfalz is given the shape of what it is like nowadays and the name of " Oberpfalz ", as well.. *what it looks like today along with the name of ... 1859 The first railroad is opened in the Oberpfalz. 1870/71 During the war between Germany and France , Bavaria joins the German Reich. 1934 Bavaria loses ist sovereignity in favour of the German Reich. *sovereignty to the .. 1945 Bavaria becomes a zone of US military occupation. The territory of the Pfalz, on the left banks of the Rhine, is being separated from Bavaria. Many expellees , including residents of the Sudetenland, find a new homeland in the Oberpfalz. 1946 By democratic vote, the Bavarian population consents to the new Bavarian constitution. In the course of the territorial reform, the Oberpfalz is subject to thorough changes. The number of 19 rural districts , meanwhile reduced to seven parts of Niederbayern ( Lower Bavaria ), including Kötzting and Lam, now become part of the rural district of Cham in the Oberpfalz ( Upper Pfalz ). The lower Altmühltal, including Riedenburg, is incorporated into the district of Kehlheim. Beilngries joins Oberbayern ( Upper Bavaria). *The number of 19 is not clear as to what is being said here. Hope this helps. I enclosed several words in () as being superfluous. Fred Fred Rump http://www.k2nesoft.com/~fred 26 Warren St Beverly, NJ 08010 fred@compu.com or 609-386-6846 fred@k2nesoft.com